A statement from Anchorage Police Department Chief Mark Mew regarding the recent conviction of former Anchorage Police Officer Anthony Rollins:
Anthony Rollins has been tried by a jury of his peers and been found guilty of sexual assault. His betrayal of the trust placed in him by this community and by the employees of the Anchorage Police Department is reprehensible. He will now have to pay the price for his crimes as have other officers who have broken the laws they swore upon sacred oath to uphold.
I am grateful to the many community members who have shown their support for the Anchorage Police Department through these difficult days. Their encouragement makes our personnel feel appreciated as we do a tough job for the people of Anchorage. The stronger this community is behind us, the better the job of policing we do.
During this trial it has been difficult for officers of this fine department and for me as their Chief to guard our silence, in order to guarantee a fair trial. Day after day we have seen vicious attacks in news blogs and other public arenas condemning the officers of the Anchorage Police Department wholesale, as corrupt and covering for their own. I say to these detractors, nothing could be farther from the truth. The trials and convictions of former officers such as Brian Herrera, Samuel Cohen and now, Anthony Rollins show this department's steadfast determination to prosecute those who violate our criminal statutes. In each of these cases, when a report was made to Anchorage Police Department of possible wrongdoing, the cases were investigated with vigor by department personnel. The Alaska Department of Law then took those investigations and carried them forward to prosecution and conviction.
I want to reassure this community that each and every complaint made against an employee of this department will be investigated fairly and professionally. If the complaint is criminal in nature it will be handled as such. No one is above the law, least of all those who have dedicated their lives to enforcing the law, and to keeping Anchorage safe. Like any institution, APD is composed of fallible humans, but we will not allow that to excuse wrongdoing.
Now is a time for our community to heal, for us to move ahead as a department, closing this difficult chapter of our history. We will continue to engage fully with members of our community in seeking to make it safe for all of its members. I have full confidence in the men and women of the Anchorage Police Department to protect and serve the people of Anchorage, professionally and compassionately.
